East Midlands: Rainbows Hospice unveils latest patron

Guardian News

Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People is delighted to announce TV presenter Anne Davies as its newest patron.

Anne has pledged to support the work of the East Midlands charity because she has always been a big fan of Rainbows. Having spent time at the hospice filming a special feature several years ago, it is a place that has become close to her heart.

As a Rainbows Patron, Ms Davies will be supporting the hospice in whatever way her schedule allows, which will be invaluable in raising the profile of the charity. Earlier this year, Anne entertained diners at the Rainbows Celebrity Luncheon with her ‘Television Tales of the Unexpected’.

Anne said: “It is a great honour to be asked to become a part of such an amazing organisation and I look forward to helping Rainbows in whatever way I can.”

Patricia Brookes, Director of Fundraising at Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, added: “Anne is very popular with our supporters and we are delighted that she has agreed to become an official Patron of Rainbows. Anne has supported Rainbows for many years and she was a wonderful speaker at our Celebrity Luncheon this year. We are very pleased that she will be joining our other Patrons and Ambassadors and we are grateful to all of them for the wonderful work they do for Rainbows representing and promoting the charity.”

This year, Rainbows is celebrating 20 years of care and to commemorate its birthday, the charity wants to raise an extra £100,000 over the year to help fund more children’s nurses.

Rainbows cares for 288 children and young people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses as well as supporting 249 bereaved families and 521 siblings. Through its outreach efforts into East Midlands paediatric oncology units, Rainbows is also caring for a growing number of the region’s children with cancer.